Cayman Islands Governor Helen Kilpatrick issued writs of election Wednesday to the 19 returning officers participating in the May 24, 2017 general election, normally viewed as the first formal step of the local election process.

The returning officers and six deputies were presented the writs, with Elections Supervisor Wesley Howell looking on.

The writs detail how each returning officer is to conduct the election in their respective district.

The duties of the returning officers include receiving candidates’ nominations; establishing and staffing polling stations; issuing postal ballots; training elections officers, including presiding officers and poll clerks; overseeing the polling and vote counting; and declaring the result of each election.

Following the election, the writs will be returned to the governor with the name of the candidate who has been elected to serve in that electoral district, Mr. Howell said in a press release.

The writs also set the nomination date for election candidates as Wednesday, March 29, 2017, and for the general election on May 24.

The Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly will be officially dissolved on March 28, 2017.